Colorado AG Sues to Block Nexstar/Tegna Broadcast Merger
Summary
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, joined by seven other state AGs, has filed a lawsuit to block the $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna Inc. by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. The lawsuit alleges the merger substantially lessens competition and tends to create a monopoly, violating the Clayton Act and an FCC rule.
What changed
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, along with seven other state attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California to block the proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna Inc. by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. The complaint alleges that the merger, which would create the largest broadcast station group in the U.S. and give Nexstar control over 265 stations reaching 80% of U.S. households, violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act by substantially lessening competition and tending to create a monopoly. The lawsuit also notes that the deal violates a longstanding FCC rule, despite recent presidential and FCC chairman endorsements of the merger.
This action requires immediate attention from any entities involved in or affected by the broadcast media market, particularly those operating in or with significant ties to Colorado, California, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia. Compliance officers should review the complaint for specific antitrust concerns and potential impacts on local news diversity, consumer choice, and pricing for media services. While the lawsuit aims to block the merger entirely, entities should be prepared for potential divestitures or other remedies if the merger proceeds in a modified form. The filing date of the lawsuit is March 19, 2026, and it is filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
What to do next
- Review the lawsuit filed by the State AGs regarding the Nexstar/Tegna merger.
- Assess potential impacts on local news markets and competition within affected states.
- Monitor court proceedings and any potential regulatory actions by the DOJ or FCC.
Penalties
The lawsuit seeks to block the merger, implying potential remedies such as divestiture or prohibition of the acquisition if found to be anticompetitive.
Source document (simplified)
Attorney General Phil Weiser sues to block $6.2B Nexstar/Tegna broadcast merger
March 19, 2026 (DENVER) – Attorney General Phil Weiser today joined seven other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to block the acquisition of Tegna Inc. by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Tegna and Nexstar are two major broadcast station companies that own and operate television stations throughout the country. Tegna owns KUSA/9News and Nexstar owns KDVR/Fox 31 in Denver. If allowed to proceed, the merged company would own 265 television stations across 44 states and the District of Columbia, reaching 80% of U.S. households. The deal would create the largest broadcast station group in the United States, putting more broadcast programming in the hands of fewer people, removing control from the communities they report to, cutting local jobs, and significantly impacting the delivery of news and other media content to Americans nationwide.
In Denver, the merger would create a dominant local broadcast station, with over 57% of the market in the hands of a single company, making the merger presumptively illegal under established antitrust standards.
“The proposed Nexstar/Tegna merger would give Nexstar control over an astonishing number of television stations across the nation, including KUSA and KDVR in Denver. If this merger succeeds, it will reduce competition in local news operations, Colorado viewers will have less choice in news, and there will be less diversity in perspectives. Not only will this merger reduce the quality of local TV offerings, but consumers will also end up paying more for monthly cable TV or satellite service as a result. Competition in the local media market is critical for a healthy democracy, an informed citizenry, and affordable access to sports, news, and prime time shows. For these reasons, we are suing to block the Nexstar/Tegna merger,” said Attorney General Weiser.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleges the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which holds that mergers that substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly are illegal. In addition to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Communications Commission also has authority and responsibility to halt such a merger, as the $6.2 billion Nexstar/Tegna deal violates a longstanding FCC rule that would prohibit this merger.
On February 7, 2026, however, President Trump tweeted “Get that deal done!,” saying that the two companies should be allowed to merge to “Knock out the Fake News” from the “Fake News National TV Networks.” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr immediately responded on social media: “Let’s get it done.”
The Trump administration has shown that it is more concerned with protecting favored corporations than protecting consumers and enforcing antitrust laws that help make life affordable for American families. Attorney General Weiser has responded to this corrupting of the rule of law by intervening when the Trump administration approved the Hewlett Packard Enterprise/Juniper Networks merger not for the public interest, but to line the pockets of its friends in the wireless networking equipment industry. The attorney general also is continuing to fight for live music fans after the Justice Department inked a sham settlement days into the Live Nation/Ticketmaster merger trial.
In filing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Weiser joins the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virgina.
Read the lawsuit opposing the Nexstar/Tegna merger settlement (PDF).
Media Contact:
Lawrence Pacheco
Chief Communications Officer
(720) 508-6553 office
lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov
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